Officer Fox was shot and killed on the eve of his 35th birthday last Thursday while pursuing a hit and run suspect. Investigators say that 44-year-old suspect Andrew Charles Thomas killed Officer Fox in Plymouth Township before taking his own life.

Less than an hour before the shooting, while officers were investigating a three-car crash in the 1200 block of East Ridge Pike, they observed a silver, 2006 Infiniti SUV speed and pass stopped traffic in the opposing lane of traffic.

Officer Fox and backup officers followed the SUV from Ridge Pike onto Conshohocken Road. While on Conshohocken Road, authorities say the Infiniti struck a white Chrysler 300 Sedan and then fled the scene.

After being alerted from another motorist, Officer Fox followed the path of the SUV and found it abandoned on Ernest Station Road.

Authorities say within minutes, Officer Fox radioed for backup, and he and his K-9 partner, Nick, began a foot pursuit into an industrial area along the Schuylkill River Trail.

According to investigators, Thomas hid on the hill above the train tracks, obscured by tall weeds. Crime scene evidence indicates he ambushed Officer Fox by firing at least four shots at the officer and his K-9 partner from a vantage point where he could not be seen.

When responding officers arrived, they found Officer Fox sustained a gunshot wound to the head. He was later pronounced dead at Montgomery Hospital.

His K-9 partner suffered a graze wound and is recovering.

Responding officers found Thomas. They say he had sustained two self-inflicted gunshot wounds to the chest and was pronounced dead. An autopsy revealed his manner of death to be suicide, according to police.

Authorities say at the time of the shooting, Thomas was on probation in Montgomery County after pleading guilty to a forgery charge in May. Authorities also say for the last 13 years, Thomas has been the prime suspect in the 1999 disappearance of then-fiancee Maria Procopio. She was last seen leaving the QVC in West Chester after work and hasn’t been found since. Thomas, who has been charged with other crimes, was never charged with Procopio’s disappearance or suspected murder.

Officer Fox leaves behind a pregnant wife and a young daughter. He was a seven-year veteran of the police force and served two tours of duty in Iraq as a Marine.